Chapter 3

3

Noticing the burning hatred in my eyes, Penelope turned her gaze back to me.

A sadistic smile played on her red lips.

“Strip this whore naked!”

Ignoring my fierce resistance and Elise’s frantic screams, the servants pinned my limbs and tore my clothes to shreds in seconds.

I curled up in panic, trying desperately to cover my exposed body, but they forcefully pried my arms and legs apart. They pinned me down in an open sprawl, putting me on display for everyone to mock.

“You had no shame seducing the King, yet now you’re acting shy? Who are you trying to play pure for?”

The maids sneered and hurled insults, acting like vicious dogs backed by their master.

It was the dead of winter. The biting wind froze my bare skin until it turned raw and crimson, making me shiver uncontrollably.

Suddenly, a sharp, stabbing cramp ripped through my lower abdomen. My heart dropped into my stomach.

Before leaving for this visit, my husband and I had prayed endlessly for a child.

If I was carrying a baby right now... I didn't dare finish the thought.

Throwing all my pride away, I looked up at Penelope and begged through broken sobs.

“Please... I might be pregnant. Please let me go, I need a royal physician!”

“You’re a woman too, you might have a baby one day... I beg you, just let me put some clothes on to keep warm...”

Seeing me reduced to begging, Penelope’s lips curled into a triumphant smirk.

“Oh, is our dear ‘Princess’ feeling cold? Someone fetch the copper kettles! Let’s warm her up properly!”

The obedient matron stepped forward holding a copper kettle filled with scalding, boiling water. Without hesitation, she dumped the boiling liquid directly over my bare torso.

A piercing scream tore from my throat as the searing heat scorched my flesh. Tears and snot covered my face, yet more kettles of boiling water were brought forward and poured over me.

In that haze of agony, I couldn't tell what hurt more―the violent cramps in my womb or the blisters rupturing across my burnt skin.

“Oops, looks like she got burned. Your Majesty, this little tramp is awfully difficult to please!”

The matron paused, squinting her small eyes as she waited for Penelope’s next command.

“Making up a fake pregnancy just to get out of punishment? You’re clever, I’ll give you that. However―”

“Even if you truly carry royal blood, so what? His Majesty would never turn against me over a worthless slut like you.”

Looking at Penelope’s smug, fearless expression, I choked down the blood rising in my throat and forced out a warning with every ounce of strength left in my broken body.

“The child in my womb belongs to the Western Emperor! If you harm my baby today, Hector will tear you limb from limb!”